Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Researchers discover thyroid, heart failure connection
Plain Talk ^ | May 27,2005

Posted on 05/28/2005 6:08:46 PM PDT by Nov3

click here to read article


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-96 last
To: REPANDPROUDOFIT
At the same time the Doc put me on the thyroid meds, he also changed me to Chrestor.

From last week: Mixed Safety Results on Cholesterol Drug Crestor is Rosuvastatin. In case you refuse to refuse to register with the NY Times, enter the Times' URL into bugmenot.com .

Now I wonder if it was the thyroid difficiency that caused the change in my cholesterol levels.

Wonder no more. It is. Check the results of a Google of hypothyroidism and hypercholesterolemia.

81 posted on 05/29/2005 11:42:47 AM PDT by neverdem (May you be in heaven a half hour before the devil knows that you're dead.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 79 | View Replies]

To: Nov3
Thanks for the links. This link(almost halfway down) says "Since T3 is ~10 times more potent than T4". I remember being taught 20 times. Regardless, it helps to explain the maxim taught about prescribing drugs, especially the preference for T4, "Go low, go slow", when starting drugs with a "narrow therapeutic index", i.e. it's easy to be ineffective with too low a dose, but easy to have adverse side effects when the dose is too much.
82 posted on 05/29/2005 12:10:04 PM PDT by neverdem (May you be in heaven a half hour before the devil knows that you're dead.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 80 | View Replies]

To: Nov3

I have hypothyroidism and take thyroid to help my low thyroid count.

Does this mean my risk is lowered or the same since my thyroid still doesn't produce like ti should even though I am getting supplemented?

Thank goodness I am only 22.


83 posted on 05/29/2005 12:25:28 PM PDT by rwfromkansas (http://www.xanga.com/home.aspx?user=rwfromkansas)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Keith in Iowa

If you have a bad doctor.

I had several tests, and I am only borderline hypothyroid.


84 posted on 05/29/2005 12:26:16 PM PDT by rwfromkansas (http://www.xanga.com/home.aspx?user=rwfromkansas)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Nov3

Is levoxyl the same as TSH?


85 posted on 05/29/2005 12:28:34 PM PDT by rwfromkansas (http://www.xanga.com/home.aspx?user=rwfromkansas)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Nov3

er, TH?


86 posted on 05/29/2005 12:28:52 PM PDT by rwfromkansas (http://www.xanga.com/home.aspx?user=rwfromkansas)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: rwfromkansas
No the TSH is a hormone that is measured. The higher the level of the hormone the more your endocrine system is pushing your thyroid. Get a good doctor and read some of the books listed above. Some doctors will not treat you till you feel well. Your thyroid is important for all areas of health. If they say your thyroid is treated therapeutically and you are being treated for high cholesterol, depression and/or libido problems get another opinion.
87 posted on 05/29/2005 12:35:06 PM PDT by Nov3 ("This is the best election night in history." --DNC chair Terry McAuliffe Nov. 2,2004 8p.m.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 85 | View Replies]

To: Txsleuth

I never really got a scary speech.

I am only borderline hypothyroid and the only symptoms I really ever have if sometimes maybe being a bit tired if I miss a pill, and even that is not very obvious so I am not sure if it is a symptom.

But, I am glad I got my doc to check me out. He ran several tests and found I was underactive.

What is bad though is that I forget my meds sometimes. My mother freaks out when she hears that, and I really shouldn't be forgetting these pills.


88 posted on 05/29/2005 12:38:40 PM PDT by rwfromkansas (http://www.xanga.com/home.aspx?user=rwfromkansas)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: Txsleuth

Oh, the one symptom that I had was rapid weight gain, and that is what made me run to the doc.

But, that was it.

It is still NOT good that I miss my medicine as much as I do. I need my doc to give me the doomsday speech so I will take it more seriously.


89 posted on 05/29/2005 12:41:04 PM PDT by rwfromkansas (http://www.xanga.com/home.aspx?user=rwfromkansas)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: rwfromkansas

Since my Levoxyl is supposed to be taken on an empty stomach, I have had to set my alarm clock one hour earlier than usual so that I can take it before breakfast. That has helped me to remember. (And just in case, I have taped a "MEDS????" sign to the door to the garage. LOL)


90 posted on 05/29/2005 12:47:30 PM PDT by mollynme (cogito, ergo freepum)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 89 | View Replies]

To: neverdem
The point in contention for many doctors is what is euthyroid? Is it defined by TSH? It is for most doctors and that is definitely the safe route. You won't end up getting sued successfully that way. What is euthyroid in reality - is it a number on a TSH test - for many no. And for the life of me I cannot understand the tunnel vision surrounding this test. The endocrine system - which really can't be modeled because of its incredible complexity can't be reduced to one hormone level especially when the person's endocrine system is malfunctioning to begin with!

That is why this stuff is an art, an major art. It requires a fresh perspective with each individual.

You know when a screw consistently shears an engineer can definitely tell something is wrong. When a patient is saying he feels lousy in the face of a number that says he is fine, a doctor is faced with a hard decision. One I am glad I don't make. Good luck.

Though "thoroughly discounted" (by the TSH!) the Barnes Basal Metabolism test (along with resting pulse and blood pressure) will tell you if your body is reacting to the thyroid medicine. The books I listed above are interesting reading and fly in the face of modern measurable science, something I don't like. Still the doctors present very interesting facts.

Also on the T3 I have read 8 times though I don't know where. As stated in one of the articles above free T3 is the hormone that has the main effect on cholesterol, depression, and cardio function and from what I have read the T4 levels can be sky high by the time you reach a therapeutic level of free T3 with a T4 only medicine. For some patients the free T3 levels can't be raised enough by T4 supplementation to be effective. The T4 and free T4 will be at the top of the spectrum and the free T3 will be at the bottom. The normal patient produces about 20% T3 and 80% T4. When given pure T4 some just can't convert it properly into T3 to get balanced levels and they should need to.

One question that I really can't get a clear answer on. Some sources say cortisol has the ability to downregulate the TSH independent of T3 and T4 levels. Are there any other hormones that do that? (Besides GH)

91 posted on 05/29/2005 1:19:24 PM PDT by Nov3 ("This is the best election night in history." --DNC chair Terry McAuliffe Nov. 2,2004 8p.m.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 82 | View Replies]

To: Nov3
Some sources say cortisol has the ability to downregulate the TSH independent of T3 and T4 levels. Are there any other hormones that do that? (Besides GH)

I don't know. I was looking for it on PubMed when I came across this article, which I thought you may be interested in reading, including its reference# 30. Go to it, and see if you can get it at PubMed. Then click on "Related Articles" at PubMed. I haven't read the whole article, and I became frustrated in its reference to MCR. I believe in means metabolic clearance rate.

Euthyroid Sick Syndrome: Is It a Misnomer?

If you're being treated by an internest, general or family practioner, ask for a referral to an endocrinologist. If you're being treated by an endocrinologist unsatisfactorily, go to a major teaching hospital that has fellowships for training endocrinologists who are up to date on the literature and testing methods. If you want to research about medicine, I would go to PubMed first. Sometimes you can link to free articles like this one. I've seen a lot of bogus crap about medicine on the net.

92 posted on 05/29/2005 3:38:38 PM PDT by neverdem (May you be in heaven a half hour before the devil knows that you're dead.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 91 | View Replies]

To: Nov3
Prevalence of abnormal thyrotropin concentrations measured by a sensitive assay in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
93 posted on 05/29/2005 4:00:47 PM PDT by neverdem (May you be in heaven a half hour before the devil knows that you're dead.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 91 | View Replies]

To: neverdem
The article is excellent. Thank You.

I have read it twice and am going back over it again tomorrow when I have time to do more research on the terms. It is very similar to a lot of the information in Langer's book. Like I said earlier this stuff is an art. There are so many feedback loops that vary from individual to individual that I am in awe that someone can grasp it all and all the details.

BTW after reading the article and some references I realized that a lot of my difficulties started after I was on a fairly high dose of prednisone 80mg - 150 lbs for a cornea transplant I underwent. I did not deal with the prednisone well and afterward to say my body crashed would be an understatement.

I agree with your assessment of web info. However it is a valuable tool when used widely.

94 posted on 05/29/2005 5:21:45 PM PDT by Nov3 ("This is the best election night in history." --DNC chair Terry McAuliffe Nov. 2,2004 8p.m.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 92 | View Replies]

To: Nov3
widely

ERRR wisely

95 posted on 05/29/2005 5:22:57 PM PDT by Nov3 ("This is the best election night in history." --DNC chair Terry McAuliffe Nov. 2,2004 8p.m.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 94 | View Replies]

To: Reborn

Hi, Just a word. I have needed T3 after testing and was put on Cytomel. Cytomel is short acting and only last in the body for about 4 hours.
I use a time released T3. I get it from a compounding pharmacy... ITC Wellness and Compounding Pharmacy
Castle Rock, Co.
I had on going problems with Cytomel that the time released T3 corrected.
I also do not covert T4 into the end product T3 and have to take just T3.
Anyway...thought I would add this...hope it helps


96 posted on 10/24/2009 4:40:45 AM PDT by khiquita
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-96 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson